But where's the orthocenter?

Geometry Level 3

Consider a A B C \triangle ABC with A = ( 1 , 2 ) , B = ( 3 , 6 ) A = (1,2), B =(3,6) and C = ( 5 , 4 ) C = (5,4) . Find the slope of the straight line that passes through the centroid and the circumcenter of this triangle.


The answer is 1.

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2 solutions

Sam Bealing
Jun 12, 2016

A B = ( 3 1 ) 2 + ( 6 2 ) 2 = 2 2 + 4 2 = 2 5 A C = ( 5 1 ) 2 + ( 4 2 ) 2 = 4 2 + 2 2 = 2 5 A B = A C AB=\sqrt{(3-1)^2+(6-2)^2}=\sqrt{2^2+4^2}=2 \sqrt{5} \\ AC=\sqrt{(5-1)^2+(4-2)^2}=\sqrt{4^2+2^2}=2 \sqrt{5} \\ \implies AB=AC

It therefore follows that A B C \triangle ABC is isosceles. Consider the line connecting A A to the midpoint of B C BC .

By definition, the centroid is on this this line. Also, because the triangle is isosceles, the line is perpedicular to B C BC so the orthocentre is on this line.

The slope of B C BC is 4 6 5 3 = 2 2 = 1 \dfrac{4-6}{5-3}=\dfrac{-2}{2}=-1 . The slope of the normal to this line is 1 1 = 1 -\dfrac{1}{-1}=1 . So the answer is:

1 \color{#20A900}{\boxed{\boxed{1}}}

Moderator note:

Good observation that the triangle is isosceles, which makes this the median of the triangle.

Oh dang. I didn't check that it's isosceles. ahaha

My approach was to apply Euler line .

Pi Han Goh - 5 years ago

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Haha, I was like "Eh, I don't want to calculate those coordinates".

Calvin Lin Staff - 4 years, 12 months ago

Coordinates of centroid is ( 1 + 3 + 5 ) / 3 , ( 2 + 4 + 6 ) / 3 = ( 3 , 4 ) (1+3+5)/3,(2+4+6)/3=(3,4) .

Here are the steps to find the coordinates of circumcenter(copied from a website as I am to lazy to type):

Step 1 : From the coordinates we have to find the slopes and midpoints of the lines.

Step 2 : Find the slope of the bisectors and now find the equations of two lines by using slope and one mid points.

Step 3 : Solve any two pair of equations and find the intersection point.

Step 4 : The point thus found is the circumcenter of the given triangle.

We find the coordinates of the circumcenter is 8 / 3 , 11 / 3 8/3, 11/3 .

Slope is 4 11 / 3 3 8 / 3 = 1 \dfrac{4-11/3}{3-8/3}=1 .

There's a much simpler approach.

Hint : OIL LER LIE N

Pi Han Goh - 5 years ago

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What is that nemonic could u please explain..............

Abhisek Mohanty - 4 years, 11 months ago

Euler line

Pi Han Goh - 4 years, 11 months ago

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